In a new collaboration, student artists will display works through January inspired by the coming Annapolis Symphony Orchestra performance of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Students at APEX Arts, the Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ magnet program, and ArtFarm Studios listened to the Russian composer’s 1874 suite while creating mixed media artworks on wood panels. Mussorgsky’s piece is a 10-piece tour of an art exhibit shortly after an unexpected death, scored for an entire symphony by Maurice Ravel.

The panels will be on display at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library through Jan. 28 and then moved to Maryland Hall, where they can be seen through Feb. 8. They will also be presented in the concert program and projected during performances on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Maryland Hall and again on Feb. 2 at the Music Center at Strathmore.

Whole Lotta Love, a nonprofit created and run by Annapolis High School students, funded the project. The exhibit is free, and the library is open daily. Concert ticket prices vary.

First on stage

8 p.m. Friday

Colonial Players kicks off 2025 with the premiere of its production of “Alabama Story,” a 2022 drama about the controversy surrounding a children’s book about a black rabbit marrying a white rabbit. The story takes place in 1959 in Montgomery, Alabama, near the start of the Civil Rights Movement.

Performances run through Feb. 1, Thursday through Sunday. General admission tickets are $26.

Soul sounds

9 p.m. to midnight Saturday

Mac Heat features four experienced musicians — vocalist Michelle Heaton, guitarist Tom Lindsey, bassist Denzil Hathway and drummer Andy Emerich — digging deeply into classic soul, blues and R&B.

Performing together for the last two years, this will be their debut show at Blackwall Hitch.

Return to the ’50s

7:30 p.m. Monday & Tuesday

Classic Theatre of Maryland is back with another of its monthly cabaret series, this time featuring music of the 1950s in “The Hit Parade.”

It’s a fully costumed and choreographed show featuring company artists, special guests, the house band and the Unified Jazz Ensemble.

Tickets are $78-$85, plus taxes and fees.

Visiting BS0

7 p.m. Tuesday

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra brings its Music for Maryland tour to St. John’s College, the final stop on its three-year journey around the state.

Conducted by music director Jonathon Heyward, the BSO will perform Jessie Montgomery’s “Starburst,” Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 49 in F minor (“La Passione”), Edward Elgar’s Serenade for Strings (III. Allegretto), Wolfgang Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” (III. Allegro) and John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

This is a “pay what you wish” event, but the recommended donation for the concert at the Francis Scott Key Auditorium is $10.

Take a class

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday

Explore the art of improv in a single class at Art Farm Studios, or take a series of classes to go deeper. The class offers short- and long-form improv practice. Classes are $35 individually or $200 for the whole series.

Tribute tradition

7:30 p.m. Wednesday

For about 20 years, BandHouse Gigs has been producing tribute shows and albums featuring some of the best-known artists from the Washington, D.C., area. Now founder Ron Newmyer has launched a second company, Newmyer Flyer.

It comes to Rams Head on Stage with a Simon & Garfunkel show, featuring songs of the 1960s folk duo. Artists include Kipyn Martin, Heather Lloyd, Tom Lofgren, Mark Lofgren, Tom Fridrich and Newmyer.

Tickets are $29.50, plus taxes and fees.